St. Leo the Great, Pope
by VP
Posted on Saturday April 11, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
Artist Francisco Herrera the Younger (1627–1685)
"He was descended of a noble family, and his great abilities and mature judgment appeared in the rapid progress which he made in his sacred studies. Being made archdeacon of the Church of Rome, he had the chief direction of affairs under Pope Celestine. On the death of Pope Sixtus III., he was elected as most fit and worthy to be seated in the first chair of the church. He trembled at his exalted dignity, considering himself weak and unworthy, and besought God to support and strengthen him. He diligently applied himself however to cultivate the great field committed to his care; preaching to his people with great zeal, and converting many infidels to the faith. His signal victories over the Manicheans, Arians, and other heretics, are proofs of his zeal for the purity of the faith. By his authority the general council of Chalcedon was assembled in the year 451, chiefly against the errors of Eutyches.
When Attila the Hun marched against Rome, St. Leo at the request of the whole city went out to meet him, in hopes of softening his rage. The tyrant received him with great honour, and agreed to withdraw his army. Being asked why he had shewn this unusual deference to the bishop of Rome, Attila replied that he had seen a venerable personage in a priestly habit, standing by the pope, while he was speaking, and with a drawn sword threatening him with death, unless he complied with his demands. At another time the saint prevailed upon Genseric, king of the Vandals, to restrain his troops from slaughter and burning of the city. St. Leo was reverenced and beloved by all ranks of people for his humility, mildness, and charity; and having filled the holy see twentyone years, he died in 461.
Pray for the present pope, that God would direct and assist him in all the difficulties of his charge; that by his zeal all abuses may be removed which carry destruction with them, and may truly be styled, like Attila, the Scourge of God. And pray for yourself, that you may not give disturbance either to virtue or truth by any obstinate adherence to private opinions, or by encouraging vice." The Catholic Year by Rev. John Gother
Saturday in Easter Week
by VP
Posted on Saturday April 11, 2026 at 12:00AM in Meditations
St. John, 20, 1-9
"Christ, rising from the dead, is our instruction at this time, that whoever pretends to be His disciple, ought not to lie buried in the grave of sin, but rise with His Lord to a life of grace, obeying the summons of St. Paul: "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall enlighten thee". No one can be a true disciple of Christ, who believes not what He teaches; neither can any one seriously judge himself His disciple, if he does not what Christ commands. He commands you now, O Christian, to awake and arise from sin. If you do it not, how do you belong to Him? For this end, the Church now calls upon you by confession and sincere repentance to purify your soul from whatever can defile, and present it a pure offering before God, if not without spot nothing that can render It may be easily known or blemish, at least so that there be you unfit to accompany your Lord. How near you are come to be this happy soul, if you consider yourself by St. Paul's measures: "If you are risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth". Not that a Christian is entirely to banish from his heart the thoughts of all worldly things. This cannot be in this life, where our duty in several ways links us to this world; but that our hearts be so possessed with the love of God, that using this world only as far as necessity requires, our great concern and solicitude in the main body of our actions may be how to perform the Will of God, and work out our salvation.
This is the method, and
these are the marks of a soul risen with Christ: and where these are
not, it is to be feared that the soul goes not beyond the ceremony of a
resurrection and repentance. Deceive not then yourself any more,
Christian soul; for you cannot deceive Him, who is the searcher of
hearts. If at this time you have thoughts of repenting, see that your
repentance be accompanied with a change of yourself, and with amendment
for otherwise, though Christ be risen, yet you can expect no part in the
resurrection of the just." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
